Sounds of SAND

From a recent SAND Community Gathering (December 2025). This urgent conversation, facilitated by Ashira Darwish and rooted in Haidar Eid’s new book Banging on the Walls of the Tank, moves through the fractured present of Gaza, bringing forth a chorus of resistance, mourning, refusal, and clarity.   This is a dispatch from within the rubble, the classroom, the lull between airstrikes. Together. Eid and Darwish hold the line inside the unbearable: the grief of ongoing genocide and the insistence on liberation; the impossibility of hope and the necessity of imagining otherwise.   Their conversation refuses erasure, insists on dignity, and carries the clarity of those living under siege with purpose and memory intact.   This conversation carries the vibration of Gaza’s resistance outward, inviting listeners not just to witness, but to respond. Topics 00:00 Introduction and Opening Remarks 00:58 Context of the Gaza Genocide 02:23 Introducing Haidar Eid and Ashira Darwish 02:32 Haidar Eid's Background and Experience 03:19 Ashira Darwish's Introduction and Role 05:42 Haidar Eid's Personal Account of the Genocide 07:17 The Impact of the Genocide on Haidar's Life 09:51 Tribute to Fallen Colleagues and Students 11:55 The Importance of Palestinian Narratives 14:57 Historical Context and Ongoing Genocide 27:34 The Human Cost and Personal Stories 29:00 Protecting Stories and Dignity 29:40 Understanding Israeli Society and Zionism 32:33 The Role of International Support 34:08 The BDS Movement and Palestinian Civil Society 35:47 The Call for Global Solidarity 43:18 Banging on the Walls of the Tank 53:12 A Shift in the Global Narrative 58:17 Final Thoughts and Call to Action Resources Project Hope Palestine Catharsis Holistic Healing Palestine BDS Movement Ashira Darwish’s Website   Where Olive Trees Weep   Support the mission of SAND and the production of this podcast by becoming a SAND Member

This final episode of 2025 reflects on a year of transitions and healing, focusing on themes of intergenerational trauma, collective grief, and social justice, especially in the context of the ongoing genocide in Gaza. Through diverse voices including Dr. Gabor Maté, Naomi Klein, Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb, Ashira Darwish, Omid Safi, Kazu Haga, and others, the episode delves into personal and collective fields of healing. It emphasizes the importance of remembering, ritualizing healing, community action, indigenous knowledge, and a para-politics of grief and relationship. The episode also highlights the significance of interconnectedness, resilience, and the continuous effort towards justice and transformation. Topics and Speakers  00:00 Introduction and Year in Review 02:03 Minds Under Siege: Dr. Gabor Mate and Naomi Klein 17:38 We Will Not Look Away: Vigil for Gaza with Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb, Ashira Darwish and Omid Safi 37:33 Fierce Vulnerability: Kazu Haga 46:16 Belonging Without Othering: john a. powell 50:51 The Limits of Solution-Driven Thinking: Bayo Akomolafe 55:47 Complexity and Phase Transitions: Jeremy Lent 01:02:03 Intergenerational Trauma and Healing: Jungwon Kim and Linda Thai  01:18:40 Generational Trauma and Community Healing: Dr. Thema Bryant 01:23:16 Decolonizing Therapy and Ancestral Healing: Dr. Jennifer Mullan 01:26:30 Indigenous Perspectives on Colonization and Wellbeing: Dr. Diana Kopua, Tina Ngata and Mark Kopua 01:40:30 Plant Medicine and Connection to Nature: Donna Kerridge 01:53:07 Grief, Ritual, and Communal Healing: Orland Bishop and Francis Weller 02:02:39 Presence and Receptive Awareness: John J. Prendergast 02:09:26 Conclusion and Membership Invitation  Links  Naomi Klein Dr. Gabor Maté Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb Omid Safi Kazu Haga john a. Powell Bayo Akomolafe Jeremy Lent Jungwon Kim Linda Thai Dr. Thema Bryant Dr. Jennifer Mullan Te Kurahuna (Mark and Dr. Diana Kopua) Tina Ngata Francis Weller Orland Bishop John Prendergast Where Olive Trees Weep  The Eternal Song (Film series and course) Support the mission of SAND and the production of this podcast by becoming a SAND Member

Father Adam Bucko, an Episcopal priest and leader in the new monastic movement, shares his transformative journey from Poland's resistance against totalitarianism to empowering marginalized youth in the U.S. and India. He discusses the profound role of heartbreak in spiritual growth, emphasizing that true contemplation must embrace grief alongside love. Father Adam advocates for acknowledging historical injustices by the church and highlights the importance of community rhythms in sustaining social justice activism and engaged spirituality.

A Decolonial Invitation to Remember, Relearn, and Resist   From a live SAND Community Gathering (November 2025) a live conversation with Dr. Jennifer Mullan & Iya Affo. Their discussion emphasizes the importance of ancestral wisdom, collective healing, and the decolonization of therapeutic practices. Dr. Mullan shares her personal journey of reconciling traditional healing methods with modern therapy and explores the impact of historical and intergenerational trauma. The conversation also highlights the significance of land, lineage, and community in the healing process, and addresses the ways in which therapy can be transformed to be more inclusive and effective for diverse populations. Dr. Mullan shares from her journey of calling therapists into a politicized practice—one rooted in responsibility, reverence, and collective liberation. The conversation challenges clinicians to confront their training, interrogate their privilege, and participate in the sacred labor of relearning. Topics 00:00 Welcome and Introductions 00:30 Honoring Ancestral Wisdom 01:54 Introducing Iya Affo 04:23 Meet Dr. Jennifer Mullan 05:22 The Non-Neutrality of Therapy 10:39 Decolonizing Therapy: A Deep Dive 14:33 Therapy and Boundaries 27:42 The Historical Impact on Therapy 31:24 Shining a Light on Hidden History 31:55 Finding Safe Spaces for Vulnerability 32:21 Therapeutic Contexts and Trauma 33:45 Bridging and Reciprocity in Healing 37:04 Colonial Soul Wound and Historical Trauma 39:39 Reclaiming Ancestral Pathways 42:25 Decolonizing Therapy for All 45:43 Healing Across Layered Dimensions 54:50 Embracing Sacred Rage and Grief 58:25 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Support the mission of SAND and the production of this podcast by becoming a SAND Member

In a thought-provoking discussion, Judy Atkinson, an Indigenous Australian practitioner, shares insights on healing colonial trauma. Patricia June Vickers, an artist and psychotherapist, blends modern trauma techniques with ancestral wisdom. Māori psychiatrist Diana Kopua emphasizes the importance of land in wellness, critiquing Western trauma narratives. Del Laverdure, a Crow Nation leader, highlights community-based healing practices. The panel explores storytelling's power, the role of ceremony, and practical steps for healing intergenerational wounds.

Dr. Cara Judea Alhadeff discusses her work and the profound ideas in her book  Zazu Dreams: Between the Scarab and the Dung Beetle, A Cautionary Fable for the Anthropocene Era. She explores themes of dream consciousness, cultural and ecological extinction, radical symbiosis, and the concept of apocalyptic parenting as a strategy for social justice and ecological ethics, an antidote to petroleum parenting. The discussion digs into the interdisciplinary ties found in her stories, her collaborative projects, and the communal effort in creating sustainable futures. Dr. Alhadeff also shares her real-life experiences of living for almost a decade in a reclaimed school bus, 'The Love Bus', exemplifying the principles of radical mothering, reuse, collective creativity, and joy amidst systemic challenges. Dr. Cara Judea Alhadeff is a professor and author of dozens of books and articles on art, philosophy, sexuality, climate justice, life-passion activism, and "petroleum parenting," including the critically-acclaimed Zazu Dreams: Between the Scarab and the Dung Beetle, A Cautionary Fable for the Anthropocene Era, and Viscous Expectations: Justice, Vulnerability, The Ob-scene. Alhadeff’s forthcoming book, Unlearning What We Think We Know (Vernon Press), will be performed during the World Affairs Conference. Her photographs/ performance videos are in private and public collection,s including San Francisco MoMA, MoMA Salzburg, Austria, the Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction, and include collaborations with international choreographers, composers, poets, sculptors, architects, and scientists. She has been interviewed by The New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Pacifica Radio, NPR, and the New Art Examiner. Alongside Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Vandana Shiva, Alhadeff received the Random Kindness Community Resilience Leadership Award, 2020. In 2022, Alhadeff was nominated for a MacArthur Fellowship. Her theoretical and visual work is the subject of documentaries for international public television/ radio. A former professor of Critical Pedagogy & Performance at UC Santa Cruz and Founder of Radical Art in Action, Alhadeff teaches, performs, and parents a creative-zero-waste life. She and her family live and perform in their eco-art installation, a repurposed school bus. www.carajudeaalhadeff.com Topics 00:00 Introduction to Dr. Cara Judea Alhadeff 01:35 Exploring 'Zazu Dreams' 04:01 Dreams and Cultural Extinction 06:08 Fractal Democracy and Radical Art 08:39 Sensory Consciousness and Neuroaesthetics 14:50 Interconnected Oppressions and Emancipation 28:05 Ancestral Lineage and Multiculturalism 34:00 Exploring Automatic Behaviors and Consciousness 34:50 Interbeing and Consumer Decisions 36:35 The Impact of Privilege and Capitalist Norms 38:06 Radical Symbiosis and Cultural Conditioning 39:21 Eco-Spirituality and Political Awareness 41:18 Apocalyptic Parenting and Deep Noticing 48:01 The Love Bus: A Journey of Reuse and Respect 54:40 Adapting to Change and Collective Creativity 57:55 Conclusion: Embracing Art and Language Resources: Dr. Cara Judea Alhadeff’s Website ZAZU DREAMS: Between the Scarab and the Dung Beetle, A Cautionary Fable for the Anthropocene Era by Dr. Cara Judea Alhadeff Zazu Dreams book-to-film animation adaptation Fractal Flourishing: Jeremy Lent (Sounds of SAND Podcast) Arab Jewish Mysticism: Hadar Cohen (Sounds of SAND Podcast) Quantum Listening: IONE (Sounds of SAND Podcast) Deep Listening: Pauline Oliveros 5Rhythms Dance Rural Studio: Samuel Mockbee and an architecture of decency Thrutopian Dreams: Manda Scott (Sounds of SAND Podcast) An Ecotopian Lexicon edited by Schneider-Mayerson and Bellamy Challenging Petroleum Parenting Decolonizing Motherhood Empire of Normality: Neurodiversity and Capitalism by Robert Chapman Viscous Expectations: Justice, Vulnerability, The Ob-scene by cara judea Alhadeff The Love Bus: Beauty & Waste In the Face of Climate Crisis Facing Apocalyspe by Catherine Keller Benjamin Lay: The first Revolutionary Quaker Abolitionist  Cara Judea Alhadeff, PhD, Promiscuous Crossings (Substack) Email Cara Support the mission of SAND and the production of this podcast by becoming a SAND Member

What does it mean to stay tender in times of unraveling? In this live SAND Community Gathering (November 2025), SAND co-founders, Zaya and Maurizio Benazzo spend the hour with activist and author Kazu Haga. This conversation invites us into a collective inquiry about healing, justice, and the radical courage of vulnerability. Drawing from his work on restorative justice and Kingian nonviolence, Haga explores how compassion can live alongside grief, anger, and collapse—not as escape or appeasement, but as a disciplined, relational practice of staying with the pain of the world. Topics: 00:00 Introduction and Welcoming Remarks 00:44 Introducing Kazu and His Work 04:08 Understanding Fierce Vulnerability 06:43 The Great Turning and Collective Healing 10:50 Non-Violence and Social Movements 17:13 Spiritual Practice and Activism 24:22 Anger, Rage, and Non-Violence 26:40 Personal Stories and Reflections 28:57 Sowing Seeds of Change 29:56 The Power of Vulnerability 31:33 Healing Through Non-Violence 38:55 The Concept of Negative Peace 47:48 Living in Community 49:45 Final Thoughts and Gratitude Resources: Kazu Haga's Website Fierce Vulnerability Canticle Farm The Eternal Song (film series by SAND)  Support the mission of SAND and the production of this podcast by becoming a SAND Member

Recorded live at The Eternal Song Seven Day Film Premiere Gathering.  In this episode, hosts Maurizio and Zaya engage in deep conversation with Yoruba philosopher and post-humanist thinker Bayo Akomolafe. In this episode, Bayo shares a Yoruba creation myth involving the Orishas, highlighting the importance of flow and memory. He reflects on his journey as a psychologist in Nigeria and critiques the political dimensions of healing. The dialogue also touches on the limits of modernity, the significance of wounds in creating new worlds, and the interconnectedness of all living beings. Bayo’s insights invite listeners to reconsider traditional notions of clarity, identity, and safety, promoting a deeper, more fluid understanding of existence as it weaves into narratives of The Eternal Song. Watch this full conversation and 40+ more The Eternal Song film series and All-Access Pass with from our 7-day gathering with Elders and knowledge keepers  Topics 00:00 Introduction and Greetings 00:46 Introducing Bayo Akomolafe 02:13 A Yoruba Creation Story 06:50 Reflections on Healing 12:49 Decolonization and Human Ecology 20:32 The Complexity of Solutions 22:25 Chaos and Order: The Eternal Dance 22:41 The Illusion of Solutions 22:50 Climate Chaos and Moralities 23:34 The Exhaustion of Traditional Moralities 24:10 Para Politics: A New Approach 26:30 The Role of the Trickster in History 28:45 The Power of Wounds and Cracks 31:31 The Fluidity of Identity 36:52 The Origins and Evolution of Language 40:15 Christianity and Indigenous Faiths 44:15 Final Reflections and Gratitude Support the mission of SAND and the production of this podcast by becoming a SAND Member

Hosted by SAND’s Lisa Breschi Almond, this poignant discussion entitled 'War's Long Shadow Part Two: The Medicine of Story' was recorded live as a recent SAND Gathering. The show features two heartfelt stories of their first-hand accounts of post-war trauma shared by Linda Thai and Jungwon Kim. The conversation explores personal narratives of war trauma and generational grief, focusing on the Vietnam War and Korean War, respectively. Linda recounts her family’s harrowing escape from Vietnam and their struggle to resettle in Australia, while Jungwon explores her parents’ experiences and the enduring impact of the Korean War. Emphasizing the importance of storytelling, the session highlights the collective healing and emotional sobriety brought through sharing and listening to these deeply moving stories Topics 00:00 Welcome and Introduction 00:55 Land and Settler Acknowledgement 02:13 Introducing the Presenters 04:16 Linda's Story: A Journey of Survival 39:31 Jungwon's Story: Generational War Trauma 01:02:30 Reflections and Closing Remarks Resources War’s Long Shadow, Part 1 (the first part of this conversation from early 2025) Jung Won Kim’s Website Linda Thai’s Website Support the mission of SAND and the production of this podcast by becoming a SAND Member

In this episode, SAND co-founders and hosts Zaya and Maurizio Benazzo welcome Dr. Thema Bryant, a tenured professor of psychology and former President of the American Psychological Association, to discuss holistic healing, ancestral wisdom, and collective liberation. Dr. Bryant emphasizes the importance of recognizing both individual and collective trauma, the power of storytelling, and the need for interdisciplinary approaches to wellness. The conversation explores the emotional and spiritual aspects of healing, the role of joy and grief, and the importance of community in fostering resilience and thriving. Dr. Bryant also provides practical advice on deepening relationships, finding like-minded communities, and maintaining emotional balance in the face of ongoing trauma. Topics   00:00 Introduction and Greetings 00:53 Introducing Dr. Thema Bryant 01:20 Dr. Bryant's Background and Philosophy 03:11 Grounding Practice and Body Sovereignty 08:32 The Importance of Compassion and Presence 11:52 Intergenerational Trauma and Healing 17:15 Decolonizing and Indigenizing Healing Practices 27:00 Balancing Activism and Self-Care 34:15 Grief and Collective Healing 36:44 Cultural Differences in Grieving 37:59 The Interplay of Grief and Joy 38:28 Toxic Positivity and Spiritual Bypassing 41:07 Constructive vs. Destructive Anger 44:53 The Importance of Emotional Expression 47:03 Creating and Deepening Community Connections 51:00 Collective Healing and Liberation 01:03:13 Balancing Self-Care and Collective Care 01:11:14 Final Thoughts and Resources Resources Dr. Thema Bryant Dr. Thema Bryant is the author of the recently released book Matters of the Heart and the host of The Homecoming Podcast.Jaiya John Support the mission of SAND and the production of this podcast by becoming a SAND Member